Offering mixed methods research, consultation, and writing services to a wide range clients.
ABOUT
Freelance Researcher, Writer, Speaker, Consultant
Dr. Kiersten Downs is an applied anthropologist and mixed methods researcher with over 10 years of experience conducting social-behavioral research with a primary focus on program evaluation, health science, and gender- and workplace- related issues. She has led the design, implementation, data collection, analysis, and reporting for multiple studies and program evaluations examining priority topics for nonprofit, federal, and corporate clients.
Her leadership experience includes managing diverse research teams and supervising and mentoring junior team members. Dr. Downs is an expert level, RIVA-trained and certified focus group facilitator with expertise conducting and analyzing qualitative data to discern underlying trends and assess interrater coding reliability. She regularly consults on the design of survey research projects, including item construction and validation using psychometrics. Dr. Downs is also responsible for summarizing evaluation findings in written reports and client briefings and regularly presents to a variety of audiences. She is a Veteran having served in the United States Air Force (2001-2005) and the New York Air National Guard (2005-2009).
Currently, Dr. Downs is a Senior Researcher at Fors Marsh, a government contracting and consulting firm tackling systemic challenges to drive sustainable, purposeful change.
Core competencies include:
Team Leadership | Community Engaged Research | Survey Development | Story Development/Storytelling | Research Consulting| Market Research and Insights| Data Management | Data Collection | Human Centered Design | User Experience | Mixed Methods Research | Casework Management | Team Building | Stakeholder Management | Conflict Resolution
RESEARCH SERVICE AREAS
Market Research and Insights
Deliver baseline understanding of the market landscape. Identify unmet needs, opportunities, and consumer expectations. Development of user personas and journey maps of your customers experience.
Research Delivery via Design Ethnography
Gain design insight into the goals of users. What goals are users trying to achieve? How do they currently do it? What parts do they love or hate? What difficulties do they experience along the way? What workarounds do they use?
Program Evaluation and Assessments
Evaluation design and implementation. Implementation, outcome, and impact evaluations.
Data Management and Data Collection
Survey Research. Multi-modal Approaches. Qualitative Data Collection including:
In-depth Interviews. Online and In Person Focus Groups. Field interviewer training and material development.
Primary and Secondary Data Analysis and Reporting
Mixed methods research analysis. Scientific writing and reporting.
